Dynasties

Eldred’s girls and boys track teams pose after winning Section Nine Class D track and field championships. The girls won for the sixth year in a row and the boys won their fifth straight crown.

By Richard Ross
May 29, 2013 —

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Winning a Section Nine track and field championship is a monumental achievement, an honor most schools have never laid claim to. Thus it is with the utmost reverence and awe that one regards the consecutive dominance of the Tri-Valley girls in Class C and the Eldred girls and boys in Class D who, with this week’s title wins, have run their streaks to seven, six and five years respectively.

For the T-V girls their seventh title was a fitting sendoff to their beloved coaches Joe and Missy Iatauro, who are retiring in June. Missy, who coaches the girls, was enshrouded by an immense group hug after the Lady Bears dusted Onteora 194.5 to 148.5.T-V was led by a trio of gold medalists abetted by a profusion of others who garnered points by placing in their events: Mareena DiMilia won the 100 hurdles (15.73) and the shot put (37-2.25). Colleen Jones took the discus (106-4), Katlynn Greffath won the high jump (4-8). Though T-V’s win was the big story of the day, honors went to others including Fallsburg’s Candhace Forrest who won the 100 (12.73) and the 200 (27.05).

Epic performances by Sullivan West freshman Courtney Meyerer resulted in second place finishes in the 400 (61:40) and in the 1600 relay (4:21.28 which she ran with Rosa Martinez, Megan Robisch and Erin Sumfleth. She also took third in the 800 (2:28:51). The Lady Bulldogs were fourth in the meet among 12 competing Class C schools. It was the swan song for Dani Myers, whose career at SW has been an epic one.

Meanwhile, the day before Eldred’s girls buried second place Chapel Field 216 to 158 while the boys beat CF 216 to 125. Kayla Maas won the 3000 (12:10.80). The Lady Yellow Jackets won the 3200 relay (11:34.61) behind the combined efforts of Sara Jane Drewett, Selena Hudak, Jessica Davis and Maas. Melissa McMonagle won the pole vault (7-0). Livingston Manor’s Ami Calo claimed the high jump (4-5) and the triple jump (33-2.75). Teammate Katherine Ellis won the discus (68-3) and the shot put (27-4.5).